Young wins IBO World Championships

Saturday

Aug 17, 2013 at 11:33 AMAug 17, 2013 at 11:33 AM

By Andy Barrand abarrand@hillsdale.net

JONESVILLE — Drew Young, 15, of Jonesville nocked his arrow and took aim at a target in the backyard of his families Jonesville home Thursday afternoon. Young an avid archery enthusiast spends countless hours in the backyard honing his skills with his brother Seth, 13. They pursue the ultimate goal; become a national champion. Drew is well on his way to accomplishing that goal after walking away with top honors in his age group at the International Bowhunting Organization World Championships at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, in Seven Springs, Penn., Aug. 11. His younger brother, Seth, also competed at the world finals, after qualifying at Michigan IBO tournaments and national IBO tournaments. Seth ended up finishing fifth in his age group. Drew said he was shocked with his performance considering the troubles he experienced going into the tournament. Upon arriving in Seven Springs, Drew’s bow broke. Drew scrambled for a replacement. One of his sponsors came through and he began sighting-in the bow while it was still dark out. He was shooting arrows in dark conditions on top of the mountain to get the sights right on the bow, he explained . “I was expecting to finish in the top three,” Drew said. “We both made a huge jump from last year.” Drew began shooting at the age of five after a family member gave him a bow and arrows as a gift. By the time he was 15 years old, Drew had shot in IBO competitions four times. Seth followed in his footsteps as soon as he was old enough, and Max the boys three-year-old brother is looking to continue the tradition. Thursday afternoon after Drew finished shooting, Max rushed in the house to get his bow. It was his turn to show-off his shooting skills. “He wants to be just like them,” said Emily, the boys mother. The boys are also avid bow hunters. A passion they share with their dad, Darin. Drew said he enjoys shooting because it is 90 percent mental. “If you don’t have it mentally you can’t do it,” he said. “Competing is all on you. You don’t have to worry about other people.” Meanwhile, Seth said he enjoys shooting because of the tournaments. “I like to win,” he said. Emily said both boys are really competitive, but it is the competition that keeps Seth going. At the competition in Seven Springs the boys worked their way down the mountain shooting at individual targets, looking for the highest scores. The top five in each age division shoot at 10 more targets to decide the winner. “That either makes or breaks you,” Drew said. Both boys will be competing in the IBO Indoor World Championships in Cleveland, in January. Drew said that shooting outdoors is a lot more of a challenge then shooting indoors because you have to adjust for conditions. “Once you shoot at your first target inside you know how far away the rest will be,” Drew said. Drew and Seth are both sponsored by Darton Archery and Voodoo Archery. Drew is also sponsored by Black Eagle Arrows, while Seth earned a spot with Bohning Archery. Even as the boys strive for victories and sponsorships, they still take time to meet the other archers. “Being a part of the IBO is like being a part of a family,” Emily said. “The boys have met a lot of friends.”